Tim Tebow Named to UF's Ring of Honor, '08 championship team honored during win over LSU

by Megan Plain

Tim Tebow giving speech at Ring of Honor ceremony

Between Tim Tebow being named to the UF Ring of Honor, the 2008 national championship team returning to The Swamp and a big win over No. 5 LSU, everything came together perfectly on Saturday night as the Florida Gators try to bring back the standard that existed that '08 season.

"It's just a great win to show what the standard was when they were here, and what the standard is now," said Gators quarterback Feleipe Franks. "Just great to show what the Gator standard is coming back to be."

Between the first and second quarters is when Tebow's name was unveiled and displayed in the North Endzone of Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. He's featured along with Wilber Marshall, Emmitt Smith, Steve Spurrier, Danny Wuerffel and Jack Youngblood. Marshall was added September 29th, 2007, while the other four were part of the original unveiling in 2006 as part of the 100-year Celebration of Gator Football.

During Tebow's speech he said, "I want to thank my lord and savior Jesus Christ. I want to thank my mom and dad for making me a Gator on day one. I want to thank all my teammates and coaches who love me and had my back through everything, through thick and thin, I love you guys. I want to thank Gator Nation. I love you guys. Thank you for loving me.

"I was born a Gator, I played as a Gator, I'll die a Gator."

Tebow is a two-time National Champion and 2007 Heisman Trophy Winner (Three-time Heisman Trophy finalist). In 2007 he was the first sophomore to win the Heisman Trophy, the Sullivan Award, the Davey O'Brien Award and the Maxwell Award. He was only the second player to repeat as Maxwell Award winner in 2007 and 2008, a two-time SEC Offensive Player of the Year and the first player in NCAA history to rush and pass for at least 20 touchdowns in a season.

Tebow was selected by the Denver Broncos in the first round of the 2010 draft, and went on to play three years in the NFL. He currently plays minor league ball in the New York Mets organization and serves as an analyst for SEC Network.